Roofing Repairs & More: How To Find a Contractor

As a homeowner, you are responsible for a lot. Upkeep of property can be costly, stressful and time-consuming. Regular maintenance can help you to avoid large repairs down the road. Exterior maintenance is particularly important as this can mean the difference of staying warm and dry or being stuck in a leaky home. Making sure that the caulking is in good shape around windows and doors ensures that drafts stay out. Checking your roofing for leaks and worn areas will prevent water from infiltrating your home. Calling a professional for repairs may be a little more costly upfront than doing it yourself would be, but remember to think about the payoff in the long run.

By hiring a pro to maintain the exterior of your home, you are ensuring the use of top of the line products and expert service. If you notice a draft coming from around the bay window in the living room, you would want to call in a caulking specialist. He will use a caulk that holds up through varying weather conditions and stays flexible through shrinkage and expansion.

If you suspect roofing damage, you certainly want to call a licensed (in states where required) and insured roofer in. Using a handyman service to make repairs to a roof can be a costly mistake. First of all, if he does not do the work properly, you end up paying a pro to come in and do the job a second time anyway. Another consideration is liability insurance. What happens is a contractor falls off of your roof? If he is not insured, you (being the property owner) can be sued.

How do I Choose the Best Person for the Job?
You will want to hire someone who is knowledgeable in his field. It does not hurt to do a little research on the issue at hand prior to having an estimate done. While the contractor is there giving you a quote, ask questions. Get a feel for his level of expertise. A skilled tradesman should be able to answer questions directly—no stalling involved. If you are not comfortable with the answers, simply thank him and move on to the next company.

Get Proof
Always ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Follow up by calling the insurance company to make sure the policy is current. Check into the validity of the business license number provided. Also, ask for the names of at least two references. Call the people referenced and ask a few questions such as: Did they feel the company was professional? Did they leave the job clean? How did the materials/repairs hold up? If this was a roofing job, did the leak stop and how is it doing now?

This may seem like quite a process to go through in order to get repairs done on your home, but when you are talking about time and money, it is best to do it right the first time. Whether you need siding, roofing, window or caulking repairs done, do your homework before you hire.